Miss Ohio 2007 Schedule

It’s hard to believe, but Miss Ohio 2007 is finally here! The twenty-one local titleholders will arrive in Mansfield this Friday, June 8th for a nine day stay culminating in the crowning of a new Miss Ohio!

The contestants are paired as roommates and live in the homes of local volunteer hostesses. During the day each pair are chauffeured about and looked after by volunteer chaperones as they attend various community events, appearances, rehearsals and of course, competition in the Renaissance Theatre in downtown Mansfield. Every year Miss Ohio week changes slightly; read below for the inside scoop of what the ladies will be doing this year:

FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2007

The “official contestant arrival” has been different the past few years; this year it is returning to the Richland Mall. At 11 a.m. the contestants will arrive, presenting themselves in summer outfits of their choice to meet with the press, sign their photo on the large Ohio cut-out and sign autographs for the public.

After briefly setting into their host home, contestants will have a reception at 3:15 p.m. at the Richland Carousel. This is very exciting addition to the schedule, as the Carousel is a wonderful Mansfield attraction, but it has not been incorporated in Miss Ohio week for at least the past five years.

After an hour at the Carousel the ladies will have dinner at the K.E. McCartney building, provided by Mansfield Mayor, Lydia Reid. The contestants will have changed into a more casual outfit while at their host home, as their first day conclude with the Miss Ohio Festival downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. They will introduce themselves to the public and sign autographs.

SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2007

Day two kicks off bright and early with the Miss Ohio 5k at the Mansfield Lahm Airport. Each year only a contestant or two participates. I ran last year and wished I had participated sooner.

Contestants who do not run in the 5K will be taken to the theatre to move their competition wardrobe and belongings into the dressing room, meet the crew and begin rehearsing!The theatre will be closed to the public and the women will have a long day of learning production number choreography and walking patterns, with meal breaks provided by Pizza Hut and Coney Island.

At 6 p.m. the ladies will get a change of scenery as they go elsewhere to record background vocals and swimsuit and talent introductions. Miss Ohio is a large production and it is necessary to use the contestants to record background vocals for the musical numbers. It can be a long process, but the past few years in has gone well. Of course, it always goes well for the non-singers who find a place in the back to take a nap! Additionally, the contestants record a first-person explanation of their talent presentation, which is then played as they take the stage for the Talent competition. Each contestant also records a voice-over which is played with the music they selected to walk to for the Swimsuit competition; last year that voice-over explained the song selection.

SUNDAY JUNE 10, 2007

The first half of Sunday of Miss Ohio Week has been the same for the past five years and this year is no different. The ladies will dress in festive parade apparel and enjoy a very early, private lunch at Applebee’s. Around noon they will travel downtown to quickly sign autographs for local Girl Scouts before the Miss Ohio Parade, which begins at 2 p.m.

For unknown reasons the women will not be creating a “Show Me Your Shoe” this year. (Inspired by the former Atlantic City Miss America parade, for at least the past five years Miss Ohio contestants were asked to decorate a shoe to represent something about themselves. Some shoes could only be carried, while others were actually worn; during the parade the crowd would yell “Show Me Your Shoes!” Just prior to the parade the shoes were even judged.) Even thought my shoe won my second year, I have to say this is such a great change! Amidst all the other time consuming elements of preparing for Miss Ohio I was always so frustrated and annoyed to also have a craft project to complete!

Throughout the week contestants are strictly chaperoned and despite the public nature of a parade, Sunday is no exception. When contestants reach the end of the parade they are escorted onto a platform to watch the rest of it; at the parade’s conclusion they are quickly whisked away to the Elks for one of my favorite meals of the week.

More staff introductions and a closed rehearsal take place from 5:15 p.m. until 9 or 10ish.

MONDAY JUNE 11, 2007

After a fun weekend with a festival and parade, a competitive reality sinks in with a closed full dress rehearsal on Monday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. After a great lunch at Chinatown the ladies are rushed back to the theatre for more rehearsing until 4 p.m.

From 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. the contestants become celebrity waitresses at local Applebee’s restaurants. This is, of course, open to the public, but there’s no guarantee that a contestant will be able to wait on, or spend very much time with her friends, family and local directors who come to the restaurant. The ladies return to the theatre by 7 p.m. to end the day with even more rehearsal.

TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2007

For the first time, the competition begins on Tuesday! This makes it extremely important for the ladies to be focused while rehearsing on Sunday night and Monday.

Tuesday morning is also the first day of pageant week which the theatre has been open, allowing friends and family to watch rehearsal from restricted areas.

At 9:30 a.m. the first seven contestants (The Catan Fashion flight) will head to the theatre for their Talent competition dress rehearsal. It is important that the women do their hair, make-up and “go all-out” for this rehearsal, as photos will be taken and the women will have five minutes between their two run-throughs to consult with a pre-designated person who has watched from the audience.

At 11:30 a.m. the theatre closes to the public and all the contestants meet at Walnut Lounge for lunch. From 1 to 3:30 p.m. a final dress rehearsal takes place. At 4 p.m. local executive directors serve cook-out style food prepared by Park Avenue Catering and then contestants begin getting ready for the first night of competition! Prior to the shows start the contestants walk across the stage with their hostesses and chaperones who are introduced.

The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. with Catan Fashion flight competing in Talent; contestants 8 through 14 (Newman Technology flight) will compete in Evening Wear and On-Stage Question while the last seven contestants (Constance Care Home Heathcare flight) will work it in the Swimsuit competition.

Preliminary Awards are given to the highest scoring contestants in Talent and Swimsuit. Those women are rushed to a press conference while the other contestants quickly change back into rehearsal clothes and chaotically make their way into the audience with their chaperone to visit with family and friends for 10 to 15 minutes.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 14, 2007

On Wednesday morning (9:30 a.m.) contestants 8 through 14 (Newman Technology flight) will head to the theatre for their talent rehearsals. The theatre is open until 11:30 a.m.

At 10:15 a.m. the contestants, dressed in suits or appropriate summer outfits, will walk from the theatre to the Holiday Inn next door for the annual Mansfield Noon Optimist Club luncheon. In years past this has been a ticketed event, allowing friends, family and local directors to spend some time with their contestant.

From 1 to 5 p.m. the contestants will have a closed dress rehearsal; to the chagrin of women competing in swimsuit, supper for the evening is served in the theatre by Olive Garden.

New this year, the contestants will also walk across the stage when their local directors are introduced during the pre-show. While I agree that E.D.’s need to be recognized, this is inconvenient for contestants because to walk both chaperones and hostesses and E.D.s across that stage contestants must line up right outside one of the stage doors. Last year breezy and hot conditions caused sweatiness, messed up hair and watery eyes that smudged make-up, not to mention contestants must be ready about 20 minutes early. (Yes, there are a few minutes to fix things before the opening number kicks off, but if your eyes water in the hot sun like mine... you understand!)

At 7:30 p.m. the second night of preliminary competition begins. The first seven ladies (Catan Fashion flight) will compete in Swimsuit, contestants 8 to 15 (Newman Technology flight) will perform their Talents and the final ladies (Constance Care Home Healthcare flight) will answer an Onstage Question and compete in Evening Gown.

Again, at the show’s conclusion the preliminary winners will go to a press conference while the rest of the contestants will quickly change out of their gowns and briefly visit with the audience.

THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2007

As you should already suspect, Thursday begins with Talent rehearsals at 10 a.m. for the final seven women (Constance Care Home Healthcare flight). At 11 a.m. all the contestants meet at Skyline Chili for lunch. The theatre closes to the public at 11:30 a.m. and the contestants return for a closed dress rehearsal from 1 to 5 p.m.

Supper from M.J. Mulligans at Paisley Park is served within the theatre and then the ladies begin preparing for the final night of preliminary competition. At 7:30 p.m. the show begins with the first seven (Catan Fashions flight) competing in Evening Wear and Onstage Question; contestants 8 through 14 (Newman Technology flight) compete in Swimsuit and the final ladies (Constance Care Home Healthcare flight) in Talent.

In addition to this night’s preliminary winners going to a press conference, all the preliminary winners and other scholarship winners will meet onstage for photos while everyone else changes out of their gowns and briefly visits with the audience.

FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2007

For the very first time, private interviews are taking place on Friday, which is great for women who excel in onstage competition, but bad news for women who count on the interview to make the judges fall in love with them.

Contestants 1 through 11 will all meet the judges (receiving line style) at 9:45 a.m., with the first interview beginning at 10 a.m.; all the contestants will have lunch with their hostess and/or chaperone. Contestants 12 through 21 will all meet the judges at 1:30 p.m., with contestant #12 beginning her interview at 1:45 p.m.

Last year because July 4th fell during Miss Ohio week, contestants were given private time with their family, friends and/or local directors. This was extraordinary, considering contestants cannot otherwise speak with anyone in person without the presence of their chaperone. Apparently last year went well enough because once again this wonderful opportunity is being given. From 4:30 to 6 p.m. contestants are free to have dinner where ever and with whom they want. (I highly recommend having take-out in a hotel room, as opposed to going to a restaurant; it’s better use of the time given and more private.)

Miss contestants must be back in the theatre, with their chaperone by 6:30 p.m. to watch the Outstanding Teen Pageant which begins at 7 p.m. Friends, family and E.D.s may sit with their contestant, as long as a chaperone is close by.

SATURDAY JUNE 16 2007

At 9:15 a.m. the contestants will leave their host home for a final time. They will have a wonderful brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mansfield Women’s Club. Since Miss Ohio is only televised on Saturday night an all important closed TV rehearsal begins at 1 p.m.

At 5 p.m. Brown Derby Roadhouse serves a meal in the theatre and the contestants begin preparing for the Miss Ohio Finale which begins at 8 p.m.! After a new Miss Ohio is crowned photos are taken of the Top 5 and the winner is rushed off to a press conference.

The other twenty ladies are taken to the Holiday Inn for an After-party. Unfortunately there is no immediate visitation, and I hope the waiting time for the contestants to be introduced and “handed over” to their friends and families is much shorter than it has been for the last two years. This can be awkward and disappointing, especially for friends and family who have traveled to see a specific contestant, but can not attend the after party. Thus, it’s important contestants let their fans know how Saturday night will work, whether or not they win.

SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2007

On Sunday morning our new Miss Ohio begins her reign with a 9:30 a.m. breakfast with her parents, local E.D. and Miss Ohio Board. At 11 a.m. she will have a meeting to discuss her job description with the same group of people. She will have her first appearance at Richland Mall at 2 p.m.